Photo By Leejay Lockhart | (Photo Credit: Leejay Lockhart, Fort Campbell Courier) Capt. Aaron Lax, commander...... read more read more
By Leejay Lockhart, Fort Campbell Courier
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2016) -- Thousands of people wishing to honor fallen service members took time on Saturday to participate in Fort Campbell's ninth annual Run for the Fallen, which was part of Military Survivor Appreciation Week.
Participants had the choice of two routes to take during the untimed run. The first was a 2.35-mile route that started at the division headquarters and looped around several of the monuments to fallen Soldiers spread around the post. The second route was shorter at 1.3 miles and passed by fewer memorials.
Because the run was untimed it provided participants ample time to complete the course, so they had the opportunity to stop at the memorials and reflect on the sacrifices of so many Soldiers whose names are frozen silently in stone. People in attendance included friends, Family members, veterans, battle buddies and active-duty Soldiers. Runners ranged from children that could barely walk to old warriors with snow white hair.
Across from the starting line in front of McAuliffe Hall, the Boots on the Ground display of more than 7,100 boots, memorializing Soldiers killed in combat or those who died while on active duty since 9/11 served as a backdrop and a stark reminder of the toll war takes on those who answer the call of duty.
Col. James "Rob" Salome, Fort Campbell's Garrison commander, welcomed everyone to the run and thanked them for their participation shortly before the run began.
"I want to thank you," Salome said. "Your time is important and valuable. You've chosen to come out today to honor those with whom you've served with side-by-side and you've spent time and as we look at these boots behind us, what an amazing backdrop, but remember the special times we've had with them and to spend a little bit of time today remembering, running together. A little bit of shared hardship and to honor our fallen."
Moments later a cannon blast signaled to the runners to start. Then a solid mass of runners and walkers bolted down Indiana Avenue. While civilian athletic attire was the most common outfit worn by runners, many participants also added weight in the form of uniforms and boots, ruck sacks, a log adorned with motivational messages and names of the fallen carried by Capt. Aaron Lax while two Soldiers from the 723rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 184th Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, Spc. Brett Sbryant and Spc. Tyler Barto ran in bomb suits.
Lax, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, said he used the day reiterate the importance of understanding sacrifice to his battery. A way he shows that is with a log from his backyard adorned with names of the fallen on it and the slogan "He ain't heavy, he's my brother."
"I carry it with my unit whenever I'm training to remember that every day I live isn't for myself. It's to honor them," Lax said. "I got a friend of mine, 1st Lt. Demetrius Frison, who he passed away in 2011 and I always come here to see his boot. I sat here for a half an hour and I just broke down and cried a little bit, because I realized what things I've done in my life. I had to ask myself am I doing everything I can to honor his legacy? Am I honoring his sacrifice?"
Perhaps the heaviest burden carried by people during the Run for the Fallen was the knowledge that a husband or wife, mother or father, brother or sister had sacrificed their life to defend the nation. The runners' bibs adorned with names, the flags, the pictures, all of the mementos carried on the run symbolized that unseen burden of loss that has touched so many Families. For every boot standing in front of division headquarters, there are many unseen shoes of their friends, Families and loved ones who must carry on with their loss.
Kamber Good's husband, John, died in 2011 after a four-year-battle with cancer while on active duty. She and her husband were high school sweethearts, who spent more than 13 years together and had almost been married for seven years when he died at age 28, leaving behind their two children Jonathan, 9 and Kyah, 8.
"It was intense trying to take care of him and the kids," Good said. "I was pregnant with Kyah and my son was only 6-months old. The WTB here was amazing and they took really great care of us. We can never say enough of that. Fort Campbell is why we didn't leave, they've been so good to us."
She has carried the burden of loss with her like so many of the other participants and wanted to honor him.
"This is actually my first year [participating in the Run for the Fallen]," Good said. "It's been a couple of rough years medically for me, so this is the first year I've been able to actually get out here and my kids are excited. We're all raring to go."
For the thousands who came out to honor the fallen, they had a chance to commiserate with others who have felt the pain of loss and the participants had the chance to respect those who have died while also keeping their memory alive. The runners shared some physical hardship on a run and most took the time to acknowledge the sacrifices made by so many.
"I want to thank our surviving Families. Thank you so much," Salome said. "We'll never forget. We're here to honor you."
| Date Taken: | 10.01.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.24.2017 16:48 |
| Story ID: | 224831 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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